It had been eighteen years. Eighteen years since Lucy had terminated all her contracts with the spirits; eighteen years since she had cut all ties with Fairy Tail, and disappeared into the world. Her last wish was for everyone to remember her, but not to try to find her, giving no reasons away.

"Lucy! I don't understand why…" Natsu started, his eyes flashing with pain.

Lucy had to deal with a similar reaction to her spirit's the other night; to be more specific, especially from Leo and Capricorn. It wasn't any easier.

"L- Lucy… I promise to give you all my fish for the next month and a half if you stay…" Happy sniffled.

Sighing, her breath shaky. She refused to allow the tears to fall; she had been in Fairy Tail for five glorious years… five years too short.

Happy jumped at Lucy, tears poring from his eyes. It about broke her heart.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but please everyone… I have to do this, and if you guys care about me at all, you'll let me go. You'll let me go, and you won't try to find me."

"No way!" Gray protested. "You are a Fairy Tail wizard! This is your home, and this is where your friends and family are."

Don't you think I already know that? Lucy wanted to scream, but she kept her cool. Luckily, Erza was supportive.

"If that's your decision… I will respect it."

"Erza." Natsu said angrily.

"Thank you." Lucy said softly.

"Even if we don't like it, she is our friend. We should re-respect her last wishes." Erza stated, attempting to be strong.

Suddenly there were several arms around her; Mira, Levy, Cana, and Lisanna, hugging her tightly. Stay strong, Lucy. Don't back out now, don't get them involved.

"Good by Lucy." several voices said, broken and saddened.

Gray and Natsu were standing a few feet away, with distant looks. "Please, understand. I'll never be able to go with a right mind if I knew that you guys hated me."

Natsu's hands wrapped around her tiny wrists tightly, but not so tight, that it would hurt. "Then stay." Natsu said with conviction, his eyes boring into hers.

"I can't." Lucy said with equal conviction; after all, she had learned it from the best.

"You are really leaving, aren't you?" Gray said flatly, still refusing to look at her.

"I am."

"And you're never coming back?" Wendy pitched in.

"That is correct. And don't" Lucy said when Natsu's mouth opened. "Ask why. Please."

"So this is… this is really good by?" Natsu said his voice the quietest it has been in years.

"Natsu, no." Happy sniffled again.

"It is."

"I guess there isn't going to be any stopping you. Is there." Gray spoke with the same monotone voice.

The words I'm sorry refused to leave her tongue. Apologizing won't make it any different. She nodded, no longer trusting her voice.

Lucy knew it would be hard- she just had no idea how hard it would be, to break her ties with them. Especially with Gray and Natsu. Suddenly Natsu had thrown his arms around Lucy, tightly, as though he would never let go. "Don't forget about us, got it?"

"Of course not." Lucy mumbled into his pink hair.

Happy had flown onto Lucy's head for some reason, and cried out "I love you Lucy!"

Finally, he pulled away, taking Happy with him.

"Well, you obviously know what happens when you leave Fairy Tail." Erza said, stepping back into Lucy's sight. "Rule number one: You must never reveal sensitive information about Fairy Tail to others for as long as you live."

"Rule number two! " Matsu continued. "You must never use former contacts met through your being in the guild for personal gain."

Then finally, the last one spoke: "Rule number three. Though our paths may have diverged, you must continue to live out your life with all your might, you must never consider your own life to be something insignificant, and you must never forget about your friends for as long as you live."

Gray had lost the iciness in his voice, and was looking at Lucy with such sad eyes. The expression everyone was giving her. Giving him a hug, and pulling Natsu and Erza in as well, she whispered softly:

"Thank you. For everything."

Just before Lucy forced herself to unwrap her arms around her teammates, Gray kissed the temple on her head. Saying her last goodbyes to everyone, and walked out of Fairy Tail for the last time. Lucy didn't know how long it was until she had stopped running, but when she did, she collapsed onto the cement pavement, the tears poring down harder than any storm.

"It is time." someone said at last, a soft, comforting voice. The person handed her a tissue.

She wiped away her tears, trying to unsuccessfully dispel of the void that has started to take place.

It took some effort, but at last, Lucy was on her feet. She looked back at Magnolia Town, her home. The place where she had found everything she ever wanted; and now it was no longer her right to claim as such. She closed her eyes, and allowed another moment of silence, before opening her eyes once more, prepared for the long road ahead.

"Yes. Let's go."